PICTURED: Vandalized posters ahead of Hong Kong's elections

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests.

A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council, or Legco.

A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China.

In this Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, photo, an election banner for radical activist candidate, from left, Edward Leung, Baggio Leung Chung-hang and Li Tung-sing are seen defaced days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Many of the candidates in the defaced posters are from the new wave of pro-democracy activists who, unlike their older established mainstream counterparts, reject the idea that Hong Kong is a part of China and support more confrontational tactics and radical action in their fight for full democracy from Beijing.

A key theme of this year's vote is a growing call for independence from China. Such talk was once considered unthinkable but has become commonplace as residents fret over Beijing's tightening. Some of the more radical candidates want Hong Kong-focused localism and others desire full autonomy.

Pro-democracy candidates agree on the need for direct elections for Hong Kong's top leader, currently hand-picked by a committee of mostly pro-Beijing elites. Chinese communist leaders had promised to allow elections but insisted on screening out unfriendly candidates, a stance that sparked the 2014 protests and left Hong Kong's democratic development in limbo.

In this Aug. 29, 2016 photo, tape holds together an election campaign banner for radical activist candidate Lau Siu-lai, which was slashed days ahead of legislative elections, in Hong Kong. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 29, 2016 photo, an election campaign banner for radical activist candidate Yau Wai-ching is seen defaced days before a Sep. 4 vote, in Hong Kong. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, photo, an election campaign banner for radical pro-democracy candidate Leung Kwok-hung, known as "Long Hair," is seen defaced and slashed apart in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 29, 2016 photo, an election campaign banner for pro-democracy candidate Lee Wing-hon is seen defaced days before a Sep. 4 vote, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 31, 2016 photo, election campaign banners for mainstream pro-democracy election candidate James To, front, and pro-Beijing candidate Starry Lee are seen defaced and slashed apart days before a Sep. 4 vote, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, photo, an election campaign banner for radical activist candidate Gary Fan is seen defaced days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 31, 2016 photo, an election campaign banner for candidate Ricky Wong, a local tycoon, is seen slashed and spray painted days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 31, 2016, photo, an election campaign banner for mainstream pro-democracy election candidates Ted Hui Chi-fung, left, and James To are defaced with spray paint days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 29, 2016, photo, election campaign posters for pro-democracy candidate Helena Wong Pik-wan are seen defaced days before a Sep. 4 vote, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 29, 2016, photo, an election campaign poster for pro-democracy candidate Helena Wong Pik-wan is seen defaced by a sticker days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 29, 2016 photo, an election campaign banner for radical activist candidate Yau Wai-ching is seen defaced days before legislative elections, in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers are heading to the polls Sunday in the first major election since 2014 pro-democracy street protests. A new crop of radical activists are challenging both pro-Beijing rivals and Hong Kong's mainstream pro-democracy parties for seats in the Legislative Council. A series of vandalized posters are a sign that the elections are the most contentious since the 1997 British handover of the city to China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)